Pontoon Hull Assembly Using Pre-Aligned Edges and Wooden Cushions
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for assembling large waterborne hulls, such as those of barges and vessels, face challenges in achieving reliable longitudinal joining of pontoons due to difficulties in aligning edges and require excessive man-hours, especially when dealing with longer hulls, as they often involve complex centering and tightening devices and accessories.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a compensator in the form of a thickened metal beam and centering devices like guiding and fixing catchers, along with wooden cushions, to ensure accurate convergence of joinable edges, allowing for efficient alignment and welding of pontoons during assembly, reducing the need for extensive manual labor and increasing reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional centering and tightening devices are used for assembling pontoons, then the assembly process can be carried out, but the device complexity increases and man-hours increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex centering and tightening devices from the assembly process. Instead of using these devices, the method relies on pre-aligning the pontoons during launch and using simple blocking arrangements with wooden blocks and sandbags to maintain position during welding, thereby significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining assembly reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-aligning the joinable edges of pontoons during the launch process before towing to the assembly site. The pontoons are launched with their edges already in the same vertical plane, eliminating the need for complex centering devices during assembly and reducing both device complexity and man-hours required
2Reliability
If traditional assembly methods are used for long hulls, then assembly can be performed, but the number of man-hours increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-aligning the joinable edges of pontoons during the launch process before towing to the assembly site. The pontoons are launched with their edges already in the same vertical plane, eliminating the need for complex centering devices during assembly and reducing both device complexity and man-hours required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by using the pontoons' own buoyancy and the simple blocking arrangement with wooden blocks and sandbags to maintain alignment during assembly. The system uses its own properties (buoyancy) and minimal auxiliary means to achieve alignment without requiring extensive manual labor or complex machinery, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If pontoons are launched and towed to assembly site, then flexibility in assembly location is improved, but the difficulty of aligning edges increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-aligning the joinable edges of pontoons during the launch process before towing to the assembly site. The pontoons are launched with their edges already in the same vertical plane, eliminating the need for complex centering devices during assembly and reducing both device complexity and man-hours required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple intermediary blocking arrangements consisting of wooden blocks and sandbags to maintain the alignment of pontoons during assembly. These simple intermediaries replace complex centering devices and are sufficient to maintain the pre-established alignment, thereby achieving both location flexibility and alignment precision
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and device for assembling joinable parts of a waterborne ship hull. The inventive method consists in building and launching the hull parts embodied in the form of water displacement pontoons, in towing said parts to an assembly site, in joining and welding said parts, in outlining the field joint of each pontoon prior to the launch thereof, in mounting centering and tightening devices on one pontoon in such a way that it makes it possible to converge the edges of the joinable outline, wherein said centering and tightening devices are embodied in the form of guiding and fixing catchers mounted on the level of a deck on the forward and aft ends of the pontoon in such a way that they interact with wooden cushions, which are arranged on the body of the second pontoon along the edge and on a transversal bulkhead in the area of the middle thereof, in mounting, along the joint outline with exception of the deck area, a compensator which is used for compensating the difference of length and height dimensions of the pontoon and which is embodied in the form of a thickened beam, in beginning with the accurate convergence of the edges of joining elements in the area of the transversal bulkhead and, afterwards, in the area of the hull deck and in stepwisely tightening and centering the pontoons on the assembly site.